Putting help

[Howla]

Hi all,

I am in desperate need of some help with my putting. I have recentley been getting back into the game, and have just hand 3 cards in for my handicap. I shot a 88, 86, and 90 with the 90 being in impossible wet conditions. However I am pretty happy with my driving and iron play but my putting is pants, I can easily do 5-10 3 puts and the odd 4 put on par 5's where I have got on the green in 2.

I had a lesson with a local pro who suggested that I was not over the ball enough, which I am workong on. I use a Ping Piper H putter which has 34" regular shaft. I just cant seem to get a feel for the putter, it just feels too soft. The pro suggested that I may need a shorter putter, but I am 6ft 2" tall so I am not so sure?

My friend let em try his Whitlam Golf Hummer II putter which feels better, and I tried the Pro's Scotty Cameron which felt good too. I live in Newcastle Upon Tyne and would like to get some good advice and be able to try the putters and get fitted. The shop where I got my irons from only sell Taylor Made and Ping putters so I would like to a wider range of putters to try before jumping in.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Kev

In the bag:
Driver:Taylor Made R7 Superquad - 10.5 Stiff
Recsue: Taylor Made Rescue 3 19 Degree Regular
Irons: Ping S58 4-PW - Stiff, Silver Dot, Gold Grip
Wedge: Ping Tour W 54 Degree
Putter: Ping Piper H 34" Reg Black Dot (Currently on ebay)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

It depends on your puttin woes. Are you leaving them too short to make the second putt a certainty. Are you missing the short ones left/right.

It sounds like a technical issue. Might be too wristy or opening/closing the blade through impact. Might not be over the ball fully or rocking your shoulders correctly

 

[medwayjon]

Best thing to do is get a lesson, followed by lots of practice to hammer in what you are taught.

 

[Howla]

I tend to leave them short. I am not sure if its the time of the year but the greens are in decent condition, although they have been a little wet/slow. I am going to continue to practice as I dont think there is a wonder club that will fix it, but I am going to try someother putters to get a better feel from the strike as my current ping putter feels very soft.

I have leet my friends try my putter and they are say that it seems a little soft when striking the ball so its not just me, i think/hope??

I am thining of looking at Scotty Cameron range but they seem expensive, but if it works then thats great, as I would rather spend a lot on the right club then a loads on a few clubs to get the right one. Do you know of any decent pro shops in the North East England that have a good range to try?

Thanks for the reply,

Kevin
In the bag:
Driver:Taylor Made R7 Superquad - 10.5 Stiff
Recsue: Taylor Made Rescue 3 19 Degree Regular
Irons: Ping S58 4-PW - Stiff, Silver Dot, Gold Grip
Wedge: Ping Tour W 54 Degree
Putter: Ping Piper H 34" Reg Black Dot (Currently on ebay)

 

[birdieman]

Maybe the ball position is wrong- have you tried moving the ball forward in your stance a little so you catch the ball on the upswing, gets the ball rolling better with a little topspin.
Nothing wrong with a Ping Piper putter(saying that Lee Westwood had a mare with one at Augusta!).

 

[StuartDykes]

Hey first post here.

Cant be sure, but are you swinging through enough. Many people change their whole mental approach when it comes to putting, when infact there are some principles which still apply, swinging through is one of them.
Another key point is that you have got to feel comfortable with your club. It is amazing how much it can affect your game if you do not like the club you are playing with. Unfortunately just because you like the club you are playing with doesnt mean you will hit well with it. There are only clubs that ccan make you play badly, and none that can make you play well.
In the end though, it all comes down to you. It sounds like you have the right attitude to sort this problem so you will be fine. Check out this site for putting help; Golf Tips For Beginners

 

[simplyme]

The best practive drill for me is putting my 3&4 iron parrallel on the green with enough width apart for me to fit my putter head in.

Then I make my putting stroke without the ball, if your swing is on a plane, you won't touch the clubs, if you do, then you need to work on obtaining a straight plane on the swing.

 

[Howla]

Another problem I have is that I have to try my putting at home as my nearest golf club is 10-15 miles away so I have to try putting at home. Any recommendations for putting mats or training aids? the 3 4 iron sounds good and I will give that a go when I arrive early before a round at my club. Any advice or tips for putting at home?

Thanks again,

Kev

 

[Nico]

Welcome to the group lovely boy!!

The two best tips I have had are :-

1, Make sure your eyes are over the ball

2, When you are setting up,feel that the ball is just to the left of your breast bone,this guarantees an upward strike.

As for an aid to use at home I use an Eye Line (www.eyelinegolf.com)

 

[Nico]

The Eye Line I use is the putting plane one which covers all bases.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I have the eyeline training aid. Its basically a mirror with a gap for the ball to sit in. It shows you when your eyes are directly over the ball and when your shoulders are squarely aligned.

It also has two removable grooves, one is a plane rail and the other a guiding rail. Bu attaching these your putter runs snugly between them which teaches the blade to be taken back squarely along the target line, is square through impact and remains straight in the follow through.

I find it great for short 3 footers where I get a little tentative and tend to pull putts left. This device lets me rock my shoulders and get the feeling of the putter head following through towards the hole

 

[TonyN]

You say you keep leaving them short, you mention nothing about your line being wrong. So all the talk of being over the ball, and following through may not apply. It probably does but if your problem is just leaving it short then you need to work on distance control. And there is no fix for this, it just comes with practice. Good drills and time spent on the greens. Your putter doesnt really matter (blade/mallet) as long as you build a feel for which ever one you have.

Good drill for this is actually to turn putting into a mini game. Can play on your own or with friends and as a mini game it doesnt make you board easily. (if your play for money its even better.

Find a practice green (preferably where you play so they greens are similar)

1) Place a club or flag 2ft behind the hole
2) Choose a distance to work from, Long putts i suggest
3) using four balls you gain or loose points for where you leave your putts. Points are as follows

-3 points for anything short of the hole
+3 points for anythin past the hole but not past the club or flag (so basically between them)
0 points for past the club or flag
+5 points for holing the putt.

Idea of the game is basically, you will be punished for anything short of the hole, because no matter how good your line is, if you dont hit it hard enough, it will never go in. If you hit it hard enough to go past the hole then it has a chance of dropping in if the line is good.

Bear that in mind and soon enough you will stop leavin em short. I used to 3 putt consistently from over 20ft. Now from most places on the green, i hardly ever take more than 2.

I play this game on my todd and also with friends for a pound a round. Is a very good drill. Only 10 minutes after i introduced it to the father in law ( master of leaving it short) He didnt leave 1 of 12 putts short.

 

[viscount17]

has anybody ever checked the loft of their putter?

I was watching Nick Faldo yesterday evening. One of his comments about putting was that for UK conditions you need a 5 - 6 degree loft to promote a roll. (for the US it was 4 - 4.5)